Agricultural losses from Typhoon Nepartak top NT$1 billion

CNA file photo

Taipei, July 11 (CNA) Taiwan's agricultural losses from Typhoon Nepartak rose to an estimated NT$1.07 billion (US$33.4 million), the Council of Agriculture (COA) said Monday.

Citing figures valid as of 5 p.m. that day, the COA said the eastern county of Taitung suffered the biggest agricultural losses, estimated at NT$731.39 million or 73 percent of the total.

It was followed by the southern county of Pingtung with NT$127.03 million or 13 percent of the total losses, and Kaohsiung with NT$108.77 million or 11 percent of the total.

Losses in agricultural produce were estimated at NT$838.21 million, with 9,963 hectares of crops affected.

The most heavily damaged crop was custard apples, with 4,198 hectares ravaged, amounting to losses of NT$467.17 million, the COA said, adding that bananas and papayas also took a major beating.

It estimated the losses to the forestry sector were at NT$27.19 million, livestock at NT$3.69 million and fisheries at 1.56 million.

Damage to fishery facilities were NT$5.8 million, according to the COA.

COA Vice Minister Chen Chi-chung (陳吉仲) said that Taitung, Pingtung and Kaohsiung have been listed as areas where the COA will offer cash assistance to the farmers who suffered losses in the typhoon and grant them loans with low interest rates, in order to help them return to normal production as soon as possible.